Mail-receiving apparatus.



Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. L. JOHNSON.

MAIL RECEIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION min MAY 22. 1914.

Qflhrwcmwo THE COLUIHHA FLANDGRAPH CO" WASHINGTON, D- C.

A. L. JOHNSON.

, MAIL RECEIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. I9I4 Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J'HE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.. WASHINGTON, Dv c.

s'rA'r-Es PATENT orrrcn ANTON L. JOHNSON, OF GAL-VA, ILLINOIS.

iviAiL-nnonivilve APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filcd'May 22, 1914. Serial No. 840,322.

- ful Improvements in Mail-Receiving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mail receiving apparatus and for its object aims to provide a mail bag receiver which is simple in construction, positive in operation, and consists of a comparatively small number of parts.

A further object of the invention c0ntemplates the provision of a mail bag receiving device which, after the mail bag has been delivered thereto, will prevent the accidental removal of the same from the receiving device.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the follow ing specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claim which is appended hereto and forms a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the receiving apparatus, the jaws thereof being set to receive the mail matter acted upon; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the jaws, closed, showing the mail bag held therein.

Referring now to the drawings by numen, ale, 1 designates a suitable support upon which the receiving apparatus comprising the present invention is arranged. Said apparatus in its preferred embodiment comprises a pair of relatively movable clamping jaws 2 and 3, the said jaws being pivoted at one end as indicated at 4 to an extension or tongue 5 formed upon the upper end of an operating plate spring 6, the latter being bent intermediate its ends as indicated at 7 and terminating at its opposite end in an enlargement 8 having an opening 9 formed therein. A second tongue 10 is formed upon the spring 6 in spaced relation to the tongue 5 above mentioned, the opposite terminals of the jaws 2 and 'being. pivoted as at 11 thereto. By arranging the enlargement S of the spring 6 in such relation to the lower terminals of thejaws 2 and 3 as to provide for the movement of the said enlargement relatively thereto upon the release of one of the jaws, it is apparent that the tension of the said spring 6 will be sufficient to provide for a closing of the jaws, the said jaws being movable toward each other upon their pivot points 4 and 11.

As a means whereby the shock attendant upon the delivery of the mail matter acted upon to the receiving apparatus may be absorbed, the spring 6 and the jaws 2 and 3 carried thereby are yieldably supported through the medium of a plurality of helical springs 12 arranged in radial relation relatively to the said spring 6, the springs 12 being attached at one end to the said spring 6 at a point adjacent the point receiving the blow of the mail bag, and at their opposite ends to the frame 1.

An arm 13 projects laterally from the frame 1, said arm having fulcrumed thereto asindicated at 14 a trip lever 15, said lever belng' enlarged at its free end as indicated at 16, the enlargement being disposed directly in the path of the mail matter acted upon to receive the impact occasioned by the delivery of the said mail bag thereto. A trigger 17 pivoted as at 18 is mounted upon the frame 1', the free end of the trigger being adapted for arrangement beneath the opposite end of the lever from that upon which the enlargement 16 is formed to provide for a holding of the jaws 2 and 3 open and against tension of spring 6.

Operation is as follows: The mail matter to be delivered to the receiving apparatus being suspended in any suitable manner. preferably as illustrated in Fig. 1 at a point adjacent the door of the car, will, as the car moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in the said Fig. 1 cause the said mail bag to move into engagement with the enlargement 16 of the operating lever 15. The impact of the bag with the said enlargement will so actuate the lever as to provide for disengagement of the said lever with the trigger 17. The moment trigger 17 is disengaged, jaws 2 and 3 are released, and the tension of spring 6 is sufficient to cause said jaws to automatically close and grasp the mail bag therebetween, any suitable material such as canvass 19 being provided to hold the mail matter between the jaws until subsequently removed. The canvass covering forms apart of the respective jaws. V

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is ap-1 parent that by the provision of the several springs designated 12, the stress and strain 5 aws.

In reductlon to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment,

- is the most efiicient and practical yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction,

5 ro ortion and arran ement of arts ma be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention,

ing jaws movable on a vertical axis intoand out of engaging relation, an actuatingspring helical springs attached at one end to said actuating spring and at their opposite ends to said frame to yieldingly maintain said therefor, a plurality of radially arranged 40' i V clamping jaws in a receiving position, a trip plate plvoted to said arms to move there-' with, and a trigger fastened to said frame j for engagement with said trip plate to maintain the said jaws open and against a closing tendency occasioned by said actuating spring, the mentioned helical springs and'the mentioned resilient arm jointly re ceiving andabsorbing. the shockoccasioned 1 by the impact of mail matter with said re-' ceiving means, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof I 'aflix my slgnature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTON L. JOHNSON.

Witnesses ALFRED J OHNSON, V CLARK ABY.

Goiiies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, lay-addressing thefcommiss io ner of Patents, 7

Washington, D. O. V I V 

